Free Destiny's Rift (Broken Well Trilogy) by Sam Bowring Page A

it, yet still there was doubt.
    Bel drew his sword and Gerring tensed, his companions fumbling for their own weapons. Bel tossed his sword to the ground and stalked forward, going down on one knee before Gerring.
    ‘Would an enemy of Kainordas risk himself in this way?’ he asked, his voice charged with righteousness. ‘If you doubt me, strike me down . . . and be responsible for the fall of our great land! But if you will believe , set me on my way, and I promise you, Gerring . . .’ He turned to address the crowd in general, and noticed Jaya twisting a dagger in her fingers – he knew that if Gerring raised his sword, the dagger would find him before any blow fell. ‘I promise you all that the murder of our beloved Throne, the creeping evil in the south, the threat to our very way of life will not go unanswered !’
    The crowd exploded.
    ‘Arkus bless you, deliver us from the shadow!’
    ‘Is it real? You’d better not be pulling some prank, boy!’
    ‘Spread the word! We are saved!’
    Turning back to Gerring amidst the clamour of voices, Bel held out his hand. The man glanced around at the cheering people . . . then reached for Bel’s hand, clasped it, and hauled him to his feet. The cheer became a roar.
    ‘I pray you are telling the truth,’ said Gerring.
    ‘If I was not,’ said Bel, ‘do you think you would still be standing there?’
    Gerring nodded seriously, then a slight smile cracked his features. ‘The blue-haired man has come!’ he shouted to his companions. ‘Where’s my drink?’
    Quickly his mug was passed to him, and he raised it. ‘To victory over the shadow!’ he called, and messily quaffed the entire contents.
    Progress was smoother after that. The crowd followed Bel and Jaya, its jubilation echoing loudly, sweeping up doubters and converting them quickly as the news spread and more came running. Bel waved here and there, laughed, and flexed his bronzed muscles at a group of girls who broke into a chorus of giggles.
    ‘Steady, my fine fellow,’ said Jaya through clenched teeth. ‘No need to get carried away.’
    ‘Don’t worry, my love,’ replied Bel. ‘There’s none who compare to a Sprite woman.’
    A little girl broke from her mother’s legs, ignoring the anxious call to come back, and landed in front of them, effectively halting their progress.
    ‘Hello, young lady,’ said Bel.
    The girl stared up at him with bright eyes. ‘Mummy says you is a . . . a legend.’
    Bel chuckled easily. ‘I hope to be,’ he said. ‘But legends are made, not born.’
    ‘Is your hair really blue?’
    ‘It really is. See?’ Bel plucked a curly strand from his head, and held it out to her.
    The girl’s eyes lit up in wonder as she touched it reverently. ‘Can I keep it?’
    ‘You can,’ said Bel, and she squealed with delight.
    ‘Not too jealous I hope?’ he asked Jaya as the girl raced away, clutching her treasure. ‘Ah,’ he added, ‘I saw what you did there.’
    ‘What?’ said Jaya.
    ‘Rolled your eyes so I could see how beautiful they are, and therefore not be tempted by other women.’
    Jaya shot him a level stare. ‘Certainly,’ she said. ‘That’s exactly what I was doing.’
    Soon they reached the carts; the drivers were hesitatingly watching the approaching mob with Bel at its core. Word was spreading so fast Bel wondered if they would even beat it up the hill. He slapped the shoulder of a shocked driver. ‘Stop staring, good fellow. Will you let it be said that you kept the blue-haired man waiting?’
    The driver scrambled into action.
    •
    In the north-east of the Halls was the Inviolable, a beautified graveyard surrounded by high hedges cut to look like spiked walls. Inside lay the graves of nobles and notables, every headstone elaborately carved and all markedly different in their designs. Each grave was covered by a plate of glass, through which those buried could be seen, their bodies perfectly preserved by magic. Bel and Jaya passed Hedris Naphur,